One night stand with my president(chapter 445)

 

Chapter 445: Get Back to Orianto

"It's still office hours, you know." Adeline purposely put on a stern face to scare Anna.

"Aren't you afraid I'll report you to Mr. Thomson and have your paycheck docked?"

Anna squealed dramatically. "I don't care if they dock my entire month's salary-I have to hear everything about you two today!"

Adeline groaned in defeat. She could never win against Anna's persistence.

So, with no choice, she gave her a rough summary of how Harrison had followed her all the way to Yewhaina.

Anna listened with sparkling eyes, utterly engrossed.

When Adeline finished, she looked like she hadn't had enough. "So he really stayed with you in Yewhaina the whole time?"

Adeline nodded but avoided mentioning the kidnapping. That chapter of her life was too heavy to bring up casually.

Anna was practically glowing. "This is just too good! I can't believe my favorite ship actually came true. Wait a second, didn't Mr. Hunter have feelings for you too?" 

That question made Adeline pause. 

After thinking a moment, she simply said, "There's no possibility between me and Mr. Hunter."

"Obviously not-since you're already with Mr.

Thomson," Anna said, then sighed. "Still, Mr.

Hunter's kind of pitiful, isn't he? I mean, given his family situation..."

Anna had witnessed some of the drama surrounding the Hunter family.

She'd even heard that Russell had spent New Year's alone-how miserable was that?

"By the way," Anna lowered her voice and leaned closer, "that whole thing with Mrs. Hunter falsely accusing you and Mr. Hunter-no one's talking about that anymore. Think Mr. Thomson had it all suppressed?"

Adeline figured that was certainly part of it. But more likely, Jasmine had gotten scared.

Harrison had already retaliated against the Hunter family.

After such a heavy blow, she probably didn't dare stir up trouble again.

Besides, her main goal had been to frame Russell and drive a wedge between him and his father.

That mission was accomplished. She had no need to continue spreading rumors.

Still, with a stepmother like that, Russell's future didn't look bright.

"Alright, back to work." Adeline waved her off.

Anna clearly wanted to keep chatting, but with her tasks still unfinished-and fearing Harrison's wrath-she obediently returned to her desk.

Harrison might be Adeline's boyfriend now, and she might be on good terms with Adeline, but the fear she had for him was carved into her very bones. She wasn't about to test her luck.

Adeline sat back down at her own desk and sent Anna a quick message.

"Don't tell anyone about me and Harrison just yet."

There was no need to hide it, but she didn't want to announce it either. Let people find out naturally.

"Don't worry," Anna replied. "I know where the line is."

Even if she were given a hundred extra lives, she wouldn't dare gossip about Harrison's personal affairs.

At noon, Adeline and Harrison went to the restaurant she had picked.

It was by the moat, and their private room on the third floor had a great view of the riverbank.

While waiting for their food, Adeline glanced out the window and noticed a little girl down by the water selling red roses. Her gaze froze for a moment, and suddenly Benjamin's voice came back to her-his idea of planting roses all over the candy house's courtyard.

Her stomach turned, instinctively repulsed.

It wasn't the roses, and it certainly wasn't the girl selling them-it was the memory. That deeply unpleasant, suffocating memory.

Harrison noticed the shift in her

expression right away. Even the tiniest furrow of her brow didn't escape his eyes. 

"What's wrong?" he asked immediately.

Adeline told him about the roses-just a quick summary.

His expression darkened. Without a word, he made a call, and not long after, two female bodyguards appeared outside. They gently spoke to the little girl and then bought out her entire bouquet.

The girl looked completely stunned but delighted. She took the money and skipped away with a smile.

The bodyguards then quickly took the roses and vanished from Adeline's line of sight.

Adeline chuckled. "Well, I guess we did a good deed today."

Still, Harrison couldn't shake the tightness in his chest. Even though he hadn't been the one imprisoned, the fact that it had been her made it worse. He would've rathet taken the pain in her place.

"Hey," Adeline reached over and patted the back of his hand. "That was a long time ago.

I'm really okay now. You don't need to keep tormenting yourself over it."

It was true-she rarely brought up the kidnapping anymore. The wounds had healed, and the danger had passed. 

Rehashing it would only cause more pain, both for herself and for the people who loved her.

That moment with the roses had just triggered a reflexive memory. Nothing more.

Harrison took a breath and smiled. "I know."

She had suffered the most. He couldn't keep wallowing in guilt and expect her to comfort him.

What mattered now was keeping her safe.

Soon, the dishes arrived. The restaurant offered a variety of cuisines, and everything tasted surprisingly good.

They chatted as they ate, occasionally glancing out the window at the peaceful river below.

It had been a pleasant lunch-until they stepped out of the private room and ran right into another group exiting a nearby room.

They were Edward, Britney, and Alondra.

The three of them were laughing and chatting-until they saw Harrison and Adeline.

Edward's smile froze on his face.

"Harrison?" he said awkwardly. "You're back in Orianto? Why didn't you let me know?"

Harrison didn't answer his question. Instead, his gaze swept to Britney, and his lips curled into a cold sneer. "Looks like you've made your choice."

That was all he said.

But Edward immediately panicked. "No, I didn't..."

His reaction made Britney's face twist. She jabbed him sharply with her elbow, and he instantly shut up.

"I'll be telling Grandpa everything I saw today," Harrison said flatly. "And don't bother my mother again."

With that, he turned to leave.

Britney suddenly gave Alöhdra a slight push.

The girl jumped in surprise, glanced nervously at her mother, and, under Britney's fierce stare, hesitated-then suddenly ran to Adeline.

"Adeline," she called softly.

Adeline turned, gently crouching down. 

"What is it?"

"I..." Alondra twisted her fingers, looking torn. "| don't want to be separated from my mom."

Her voice was trembling. She couldn't help glancing toward Britney again.

Then she added in a whisper, "Can you help me?"